[blockquote] Despite this, Ferguson noted that the Episcopal Church’s global ecumenical relationships remain strong, with the exception of certain setbacks with the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. [/blockquote]
…who make up the majority of the Christian world.
“But Vercammen acknowledged that more creativity is needed in dealing with overlapping jurisdictions. The Church of England’s Diocese in Europe also includes parishes throughout the continent.”
Two tiny entities speaking about what the main English speaking anglican presence in Europe ought to do, without asking if the Diocese in Europe (Anglican) might now wonder whether the tiny American presence is even recognisably ‘anglican.’
The PB said, “[H]ealing of the community is why we’re here, not just the healing of the Christian community through our ecumenical work, but the healing of all creation.”
I’m just baffled by this claim. TEC’s leaders haven’t been willing let alone able to heal the wounds within their own church and have played a key role in rupturing relationships within the wider Anglican Communion. TEC’s closer ecumenical relationships are principally with churches that share its, now foundational, ethical views on human sexuality (eg ELCA, the Old Catholics and soon to be the Church of Sweden). It’s hardly an ecumenical boast to say that we have healed relationships by getting cosy with folks who share our views. (It’s also worth noting that these very views – so far from healing relationships – led, just as in TEC, to the splitting of the Union of Utrecht and the effective [url=http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=17-04-056-r ]expulsion[/url] of the Polish National Catholic Church from the Old Catholic communion of churches).
It’s a weird vision of ecumenical healing that ends in expulsion, inhibition and split.
I know absolutely nothing about the Old Catholic Church except that two gay ex-(Roman) Catholic priests that I knew (they had formed a relationship while priests and had at least enough integrity to quit when they found they couldn’t keep their vows) joined. They didn’t attempt to become priests and that didn’t necessarily suggest to me that it was a “gay friendly” church but it is possible that it has a number of gay ex-RCs. That wouldn’t certainly account for its connection to TEC.
I was struck by these comments from the Old Catholic Bishop Vercammen: then we can really build a nucleus of church where Christians of all origins can come together. We have a unique opportunity and it would be a pity if we were not to use it . It seems to hint at a change of Anglican policy in Europe. As Chris Seitz says above, the traditional Anglican understanding has been of ministering to English-speakers. This is why Anglican clergy are called chaplains, even although they sometimes serve long-established churches on the Continent. But this statement seems to point towards a joint Old Catholic-Anglican initiative to establish themselves as a denomination alongside others, with initiative to reach out to the unconverted. This would be quite a change.
#9–it sounds like two tiny non-CofE (Anglican) entities (TEC and Old Catholic) are speaking of a single endeavour, when the Diocese of Europe is a substantial effort involving parishes with long history and a much larger number of churches (from the Balkans to Spain). From memory, I suspect there may be 6-7 parishes total in the TEC presence. There are more Diocese of Europe congregations in Aquitaine alone! Given the way in which TEC is asking to be autonomous and independent, the assumption appears to be that the Diocese of Europe will join in that sentiment — why?
TEC is like a cellar or a tomb. The metaphor makes little or no sense. But then….
“We have much to learn from one another.”
What an ego.
The wineskins analogy is a mashup and makes little sense.
she writes the way she thinks. Unfortunately. Larry
[blockquote] Despite this, Ferguson noted that the Episcopal Church’s global ecumenical relationships remain strong, with the exception of certain setbacks with the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. [/blockquote]
…who make up the majority of the Christian world.
Aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
“But Vercammen acknowledged that more creativity is needed in dealing with overlapping jurisdictions. The Church of England’s Diocese in Europe also includes parishes throughout the continent.”
Two tiny entities speaking about what the main English speaking anglican presence in Europe ought to do, without asking if the Diocese in Europe (Anglican) might now wonder whether the tiny American presence is even recognisably ‘anglican.’
I’m just baffled by this claim. TEC’s leaders haven’t been willing let alone able to heal the wounds within their own church and have played a key role in rupturing relationships within the wider Anglican Communion. TEC’s closer ecumenical relationships are principally with churches that share its, now foundational, ethical views on human sexuality (eg ELCA, the Old Catholics and soon to be the Church of Sweden). It’s hardly an ecumenical boast to say that we have healed relationships by getting cosy with folks who share our views. (It’s also worth noting that these very views – so far from healing relationships – led, just as in TEC, to the splitting of the Union of Utrecht and the effective [url=http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=17-04-056-r ]expulsion[/url] of the Polish National Catholic Church from the Old Catholic communion of churches).
It’s a weird vision of ecumenical healing that ends in expulsion, inhibition and split.
#5–the usual, what happens when you ass u me. 🙂
I know absolutely nothing about the Old Catholic Church except that two gay ex-(Roman) Catholic priests that I knew (they had formed a relationship while priests and had at least enough integrity to quit when they found they couldn’t keep their vows) joined. They didn’t attempt to become priests and that didn’t necessarily suggest to me that it was a “gay friendly” church but it is possible that it has a number of gay ex-RCs. That wouldn’t certainly account for its connection to TEC.
I was struck by these comments from the Old Catholic Bishop Vercammen: then we can really build a nucleus of church where Christians of all origins can come together. We have a unique opportunity and it would be a pity if we were not to use it . It seems to hint at a change of Anglican policy in Europe. As Chris Seitz says above, the traditional Anglican understanding has been of ministering to English-speakers. This is why Anglican clergy are called chaplains, even although they sometimes serve long-established churches on the Continent. But this statement seems to point towards a joint Old Catholic-Anglican initiative to establish themselves as a denomination alongside others, with initiative to reach out to the unconverted. This would be quite a change.
#9–it sounds like two tiny non-CofE (Anglican) entities (TEC and Old Catholic) are speaking of a single endeavour, when the Diocese of Europe is a substantial effort involving parishes with long history and a much larger number of churches (from the Balkans to Spain). From memory, I suspect there may be 6-7 parishes total in the TEC presence. There are more Diocese of Europe congregations in Aquitaine alone! Given the way in which TEC is asking to be autonomous and independent, the assumption appears to be that the Diocese of Europe will join in that sentiment — why?